Year 10 Religious Education

Year 10 Religious Education

Faith Development at Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College

As an essential part of our Catholic identity, all students at Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College participate in Religious Education. Our College seeks to form young people of faith, character, and compassion—guided by the vision of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the values of the Josephite tradition: courage in adversity, compassion for the vulnerable, and a commitment to justice.

Religious Education is not simply an academic subject. It is a space where students are invited to explore life’s biggest questions—questions about purpose, identity, suffering, love, and meaning. We encourage students to reflect on these questions through a Catholic lens, while engaging respectfully with a diversity of beliefs and worldviews. This reflects our commitment to a culture of dialogue.

Faith development at the College is fostered through:

• Daily prayer and reflection

• Year-level and whole-school celebrations of the Eucharist

• Religious Education classes

• Participation in social justice initiatives and outreach opportunities

At Year 10, each Religious Education class participates in at least one class Mass per semester in the Mary MacKillop Chapel. These experiences are central to our mission and are approached with Respect, Courage, Wisdom, and Responsibility—the four School Wide Expectations that guide our community life.

Year 10 Religious Education (Core Program)

Year 10 Religious Education is the core Religious Education subject undertaken by students not enrolled in the Youth Ministry stream. It is based on the To Live in Christ Jesus curriculum developed by the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd (DOSCEL), and aligned to the structure and intent of the Victorian Curriculum.

This subject supports students to develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic tradition while also reflecting on their own values, decisions, and beliefs. Students engage with key theological, ethical, and scriptural topics that are relevant to their lives as young people navigating an increasingly complex world.

Key units include:

• Death and Resurrection in the Light of Easter

• The Sacrament of the Eucharist

• Moral Decision-Making

• The Triune God: Love in Relationship

Using the Pedagogy of Encounter, students begin from their own experiences, engage with Scripture and Church teaching, and are invited to respond critically, ethically, and personally. Learning is dialogical, reflective, and grounded in contemporary issues.

Activities include:

• Written reflections and inquiry tasks

• Ethical scenario analysis

• Scriptural interpretation

• Group discussion and presentations

• Creative and multimedia responses

• Participation in prayer and liturgy

This subject provides an excellent foundation for senior pathways including Religion and Society, Texts and Traditions, or Youth Ministry. More importantly, it helps form students into people of conscience, compassion, and conviction—values at the heart of Catholic education.

Youth Ministry (Alternative Religious Education Stream)

Students may also apply for the Youth Ministry stream as an alternative to the Core Year 10 Religious Education subject. This pathway is action-based, community-focused, and inspired by the Josephite principle: “Never see a need without doing something about it.”

The Youth Ministry stream emphasises faith in action, leadership, and Catholic Social Teaching. It is designed for students who want to explore and express their faith through active service, team-based initiatives, and peer-led activities that support the school and broader community.

Key components include:

• Understanding and applying Catholic Social Teaching (e.g. dignity, justice, stewardship)

• Exploring the Eucharist as a source of mission and service

• Running justice-focused projects such as fundraising, awareness campaigns, or peer education

• Visiting local community organisations (e.g. aged care centres, feeder primary schools)

• Leading student prayer, liturgies, and reflection activities

• Participating in social outreach and whole-school Catholic identity initiatives

Students in Youth Ministry are assessed through their participation, initiative, project work, and reflective practice. The learning is collaborative, experiential, and directly linked to leadership development and Christian service.

This program is ideally suited to students who:

• Enjoy hands-on, practical learning

• Are developing leadership skills

• Are passionate about justice, service, and Catholic mission

• May be considering future involvement in Year 11 Youth Ministry, VCE-VM, VET Community Services, or other community-facing pathways

How to Apply

Entry into Youth Ministry is by application. The application form can be found on this page and should be submitted to either:

• the Teaching and Learning Leader – Religious Education, or

• the Director of Catholic Identity and Mission

All applications will be considered, with final placement determined based on student suitability and the capacity of the program.

Application form to Study Year 10 Youth Ministry